Fluid feeding and distributing apparatus



Dec. 18, 1945.

H. R. LOWNSBERY Filed June 7, 1944 lime mar I! m I8 40 II a L N H I I z-II@ 25 l.

20 l flzl Qttumep Patented Dec. 18, 1945 OFFICE FLUID rnnnmo AND prs'mmurme ArrAaA'rUs Harry R. Lownsbery, Elmira, N. Y.

Application June 7, 1944, Serial No. 539,217

13 Claims. (01. 103-2) The present invention relates to a fuel pump and distributing apparatus for internal combustion engines and more particularly to devices of this character which are arranged for. handling of a liquid fuel and its positive discharge in desired, equal quantities to a plurality of engine cylinders.

The primeobject of the invention is a simple and dependable pump and distributor assembly capable of injecting measured charges of fluid to a number of distributing points.

Another object is an apparatus which delivers measured fuel charges by mechanically operated means to the fuel lines leading to the respective cylinders of an engine.

A still further object is a fuel distributing appa ratus having ready facilities to regulate the measured quantities of fuel in accordance with the power out-put desired.

The accompanying drawing is a sectional view of a fuel pumping and distributing apparatus embodying the invention.

The apparatusincludes three castingsv H, [2, and I3 so assembled as to form a high pressure chamber I 4 and a low pressure chamber I5. The lower end of a shaft l6 passes through the bottom casting l3, a fuel pump cam 11, and thence through chamber l and casting 12 into chamber l4 wherein it is equipped with a fuel distributor cam l8. Below casting l3 shaft |6 carries a gear 20 in mesh with a drive gear adapted to be driven by the engine (not shown) with which the fuel pump assembly is being used. The bottom end of shaft I6 is equipped with a collar 22 "having one end of a throttle operated bell crank 23 associated therewith. A spring 24 connected to bell crank 23 normally holds shaft IS in the lowered endwise position shown. ,The downward position of shaft I6 is determined by a cam drive pin 25 tightly fitted into a transverse aperture through shaft l6 and having its ends projected into slots through cam I! one such slot 21 being visible in the drawing. A thrust bearing 28 is provided for cam I1 and also takes the added thrust of shaft is when in its lowermost position.

Fuel is supplied to the low compression chamber l5 via a fuel supply line 30 and a check valve 3|. Fuel in chamber I5 is pumped into the high pressure chamber I 4 by a reciprocating pump driven by cam [1. This pump comprises a tubular plunger 32 arranged to operate in a cylinder bore through casting l2 and is driven to its lower position by a compression spring 33. Cam I'I imparts the upward stroke to plunger 32. The upper end of the bore of plunger 32 is normally closed by a check valve 35. Also as will be observed, the upper end of the passage through casting 12 immediately above plunger 32 is closed by a check valve assembly 36.

'I'he,casting H is tapped to a pressure relief valve 40 through which surplus fuel pumped into chamber I4 is returned to the source of fuel supply (not shown). A fuel feed valve 42 is provided for each cylinder of the engine. Valves 42 are adapted to be successively operated by the fuel distributor cam l3 and, of course, the amount of fuel passed by them to their associated lines 43 depends on the pressure maintained in chamber [4 as determined by the relief valve All and also upon the endwise position of shaft l5. As will be understood with shaft I6 in the position shown, cam I8 will exert a slight lift of the plungers of valves'42 and accordingly the engine will be operated at around idling speed until the throttle operated bell crank 23 is actuated to raise shaft l6 and hence raise cam l8 into more effective operative relation with the plungers of valves 42, or alternatively is operated to lower cam l8 out of operating range of the plungers to discontinue the supply of fuel to the engine cylinders.

In operation, the plunger 32 on its down stroke creates a. reduced pressure in the spaces between check valves 35 and 36, thereby causing fuel to be sucked into this space from chamber l5. On the upstroke of plunger 32, the fuel trapped between valves 35 and 36 is forced into chamber l4. As will be understood, although only one pump is shown, as many pumps may be provided as conditions require, in which case such pumps would simply be operated in succession by cam ll.

Although but one form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it should be understood that many changes may be made in the design or character of the valves employed well within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is: a

1. In a fuel pumping and distr' uting system, a low pressure fuel chamber, a high pressure fuel chamber, a pump for transferring fuel from said low pressure chamber to the high pressure chamber, a plurality of fuel lines issuing from said high pressure chamber each provided with a.

normally closed valve, a cam within said low pressure chamber for actuating said pump, a cam in said high pressure chamber for opening the valves of said fuel lines in succession, anda single drive chamber, a pump for transferring fuel from said low pressure chamber to the high pressure chamber, a plurality of fuel lines issuing from said high pressure chamber each provided with a normally closed valve, a cam within said low pressure chamber for actuating said pump, a cam in said high pressure chamber for opening the valves of said fuel in succession, a single drive shaft for both of said cams, and means for shifting said drive shaft axially to modify the extent of opening of said valves by said second mentioned cam.

3. In a fuel pumping and distributing apparatus, a low pressure chamber having a valved fuel inlet, a high pressure chamber having an outlet passage with a relief valve therein and having additionally valved outlet passages for connection with the combustion chambers of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, a wall separating said chambers having a passage there.- through containing a check valve in the end adjoining said-high pressure chamber and having spaced therefrom a tubular plunger projecting into said low pressure chamber, the bore of said plunger having a check valve therein in the end near the high pressure chamber and having its lower end opening into the low pressure chamber, said check valves being arranged to permit passage of fuel toward said high pressure chamber, a cam for reciprocating said plunger to create alternate low and high pressures in the space between said check valves whereby charges of fuel are drawn from fuel in said low pressure chamber into the space between said check valves and then forced into said high pressure chamber, a cam cooperative with the valves of the high pressure chamber outlets to the internal combustion engine to open them to supply fuel thereto, and a common drive shaft on which both of said cams are mounted.

4. In a fuel pump and distributor assembly, a low pressure fuel chamber having a fuel feed line thereto containing a check valve, 8. high pressure fuel chamber having fuel delivery lines issuing therefrom each containing a spring closed and cam opened valve, a valved fuel line extending between said chambers, a combined spring and cam actuated pump for forcing fuel through said line and through the valves therein into said high pressure chamber, a drive shaft passing through said low pressure chamber and projected into said high pressure chamber, and cams in said chambers carried by said shaft for actuatin said pump and the respective valves of the fuel delivery lines against the tension of their springs.

5. In a fuel pump and distributor assembly, a group of fuel distributor valves, 2. pump for supplying fuel to said valves under pressure, an endwise movable shaft having a cam rigidly fixed thereon arranged in common'operative relation to said valves, a second cam driven by said shaft for actuating said pump, and means for moving said shaft endwise to modify the degree of operation of said valves by said first cam.

6. In a fuel pump and distributor assembly, a. group of fuel distributor valves, a pump for supplying fuel to said valves under pressure, an endwise movable shaft having a cam rigidly fixed thereon arranged in common operative relation to said valves, a cam for actuating said pump, a

coupling between said shaft and second cam enabling endwise movement of said shaft relative to the latter cam, and means for moving said shaft endwise to modify the degree of operation of said valves by said first cam.

7. In a liquid pumping and distributing apparatus, a chamber for receiving liquid from a supply body, a supply line to said chamber including a check valve. a. second chamber having a dischage line extending therefrom containing a relief valve, limiting the pressure which can be built up therein, other discharge lines issuing from said second chamber each containing a spring closed valve having operating means within said chamber, a fluid supply line extending between said chambers with a check valve therein preventing flow of fluid from the second to the first mentioned chamber, a pumping unit arranged in part in said first chamber and in part in the latter fluid supply line, a drive shaft extending through said first chamber and into the second, a cam on said shaft for operating said pump, a cam on said shaft for successively actuating the operating means of said spring closed valves, and means for rotating said shaft.

8. In a fuel pump and distributor apparatus, a low pressure chamber, a line for supplying liquid fuel to said chamber, a check valve in said line, a high pressure chamber separated from said low pressure chamber by a wall of substantial thickness having a passage therethrough connecting said chambers, a check valve in the end of said passage opening into said high pressure chamber, a pump in said passage spaced from said check valve and extending into said low pressure chamber, fuel supply lines extending from said high pressure chamber each equipped with a valve having an actuating member within said latter chamber, means within said latter chamber for operating said actuating members in succession, ,and means within said low pressure chamber for actuating said pump to convey fuel under pressure from said low pressure chamber to said high pressur chamber.

9. In a fuel feeding and distributing apparatus for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, a low pressure chamber having a fuel supply line in communication therewith having a check valve therein positioned to permit flow of fuel toward said chamber, a high pressure chamber having a. fuel line in communication therewith containing a pressure relief valve set to pass fluid to said line after a predetermined pressure is established in said chamber, a fuel discharge line in communication with said chamber for each cylinder of the engine to which fuel is to be supplied each line containing a spring closed valve, means providing a passage between said chambers, a check valve in the end of said passage opening into said high compression chamber, a plunger occupying a substantial portion of the remainder of said passage and extending into said low compression chamber, said plunger having a bore along its length one end of which opens into said low pressure chamber'and the other end of which opens into said passage, 9. check valve in the latter end of said plunger positioned to prevent fuel flow toward said low pressure chamber, a spring to move said plunger toward said low pressure chamber, and cams within said chambers for actuating said valves and plunger against the tension of their springs.

10. In a fuel feeding and distributing apparatus for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, a low pressure chamber having a fuel supply line in communication therewith, a high pressure chamber having a fuel discharge line in communication therewith for each cylinder of the engine to which it supplies fuel, a valve in each fuel discharge line, means providing a passage between said chambers, a check valve in the high pressure chamber end of the passage disposed to prevent flow of fuel toward the low pressure chamber, .a plunger occupying a substantial portion of the passage and projecting into said low pressure chamber, said plunger having a bore along its length one end of which opens into said low pressure chamber, a check valve cooperative with the other end of said bore arranged to prevent flow of fuel toward said low pressure chamber, resilient means to urge said plunger out of said passage to create a low pressure in the passage space between said valves to draw fuel from said low pressure chamber into said space, means for periodically positively driving said plunger into said passage to create a super pressure within 'saidspace toforce the fluid therefrom into said high pressure chamber, and means for actuating the valves in said fuel discharge lines to release charges of fuel from said high pressure chamber to the respective engine cylinders.

11, In a fuel compressor and distributon a compression chamber, a pump arranged to transfer fuel from a supply. source to said compression chamber and to build up a pressure therein,- fuel delivery valves in communication with said compression chamber, a cam, a shaft for rotating said cam to operate said valves in sequence, and means for moving said shaft endwise to change the operative position of said cam relative to said valves.

12. In a fuel pump for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, a pump cylinder and a plunger adapted to reciprocate therein, a high compression chamber for said cylinder, a plurality of passages adapted to convey liquid fuel from said chamber to said passages, a valve in each passage having a plunger projecting into the'high compression chamber adapted to control the flow of fuel through its passage, and a single drive shaft having the necessary cams thereon arranged within'said high compression chamber for actuating the plungers of said pump and valves respectively.

13. In a fuel pump for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, a low compressionfuel chamber, a high compression fuel chamber, a dividing wall between said chambers having a cylindrical passage therethrough connecting said chambers, means including a reciprocal plunger pump for transferring fuel from said' low compressionchamber to said high compression chamber, a plurality of fuel lines issuing from said high compression chamber each containing a plunger valve for controlling the supply of fuel to said lines, a cam in the low compression chamber for actuating said plunged pump, a cam in said high compression chamber for actuating said plunger valves, and means for driving said cams.

' HARRY R. LOWNSBERY. 

